Rachel Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Robinson
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Robinson in 1997
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Rachel Annetta Isum
July 19, 1922 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | Manual Arts High School |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Nurse, professor |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award (2007) Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) |
Rachel Annetta Robinson (born July 19, 1922) is an American woman who was a professor and a registered nurse. She is best known as the wife of the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. After he passed away, she created the Jackie Robinson Foundation to help young people.
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Rachel Robinson's Early Life and Career
Rachel Isum was born in Los Angeles, California. She went to Manual Arts High School and then the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Meeting Jackie Robinson
At UCLA, she met Jackie Robinson in 1941. He later became a famous baseball player. Rachel graduated from UCLA on June 1, 1945, with a degree in nursing. Rachel and Jackie married on February 10, 1946. This was just one year before Jackie started playing in the major baseball leagues. They had three children: Jackie Robinson Jr. (1946–1971), Sharon Robinson (born 1950), and David Robinson (born 1952).
Her Nursing Career
After Jackie Robinson stopped playing baseball in 1956, Rachel continued her nursing career. She earned a master's degree in psychiatric nursing from New York University in 1959. She worked as a researcher and nurse at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She held this job for five years. Later, she became a professor at Yale School of Nursing. She also became the Director of Nursing at the Connecticut Mental Health Center.
In 1972, Rachel Robinson started the Jackie Robinson Development Corporation. This company built homes for families. She was the president of this company for ten years. In 1973, she created the Jackie Robinson Foundation. This is a non-profit organization. It helps students from diverse backgrounds with scholarships and leadership skills. The Foundation has supported over 1,000 students. It has helped 97% of its students graduate from college.
In 1996, Rachel Robinson wrote a book with Lee Daniels. It was called Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Rachel Robinson has received many important awards for her work. In 2007, she received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. This award recognized her important contributions.
In 2009, she was given the UCLA Medal. This is the highest honor from the UCLA. It celebrates people who have made amazing contributions to their jobs and to society. She has also received twelve honorary doctorates. Other awards include the Candace Award and the Black History Makers Award.
In 2014, Rachel Robinson was honored by the Baseball Reliquary. In 2017, she received the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. This award came from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
About the Jackie Robinson Foundation
The Jackie Robinson Foundation is a special organization. It gives scholarships to young people from diverse backgrounds. These scholarships help them go to college. The Foundation also works to keep the memory and achievements of Jackie Robinson alive. Rachel Robinson started it in 1973. Its main office is in New York City.
How Rachel Robinson Has Been Portrayed
Rachel Robinson's life has been shown in movies. Actress Ruby Dee played her in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson Story. Later, Nicole Beharie played her in the 2013 movie 42.
Her Personal Life
Rachel Robinson celebrated her 100th birthday on July 19, 2022. She lives on a 60-acre farm in Salem, Connecticut.
See Also
